feb 15th i,ll be watching

I was simply giving an example in response to your 50 meter claim. I'm quite aware that the experts have said quite confidently that it will not hit.
Therefore it will not. The link i provided also gives an example of a 200 foot impactor and as a previous poster pointed out, it would not be pleasant
for those affected.

Asteroid 2012 DA14's close encounter is also a record-breaking celestial event, Yeomans said. An object this large only passes this close to the
Earth about once every 40 years, and likely only hits the planet once every 1,200 years, he added.

Amateur astronomers have already captured some photos of asteroid 2012 DA14, and NASA plans to make detailed radar observations of the space rock to
learn about its composition, spin and surface features, the scientists said.

The asteroid is similar in size to the object that exploded over Siberia, Russia, in 1908 in the Tunguska event. That explosion leveled hundreds of
square miles of land, scientists said. While asteroid 2012 DA14 could potential create such destruction if it struck the Earth, there is absolutely no
chance of an impact for the foreseeable future, NASA officials said.

They can tell somewhat what the outer shell is made up from their radar and the refraction of test equipment but can't tell what it's core is made
of. After this rock goes through our atmosphere they will be able to judge it's weight and it's composition from the angle it turns at as it passes
by. I am sure they will watching for any colors or illumination given off, if it does have metals in the outer crust they will know. Those guys that
study this all the time are very good at what they do.

Till that time it is a wait and see situation and I doubt if this asteroid will hit the earth. Nobody can be absolutely sure, it could run into a
chunk of space rock between now and the fifteenth and go either way.

everything has gravity but size has a lot to do with the actual force. Gravity is a weak force to begin with. Otherwise we would all be stuck to the
ground unable to move. A baby can raise its little arm against the gravity of earth so the force from this rock would be moot. I do not think that it
can have any effect on tectonic plates or create wind either.

"We are going to be looking closely for evidence of seismic activity on 2014 DA14 as it passes by,"
says Binzel. "This is the first case of an object coming close enough to experience quakes AND where we have enough notice to plan observations."

In what way? Unless I'm mistaken, there's nothing to indicate that it's deviated from the predicted path which won't bring it closer than 17,000 miles
from Earth at its closest approach. The only (very, very minimal) risk - barring something totally unknown and prohibitively improbable - as far as I
know is that it could hit a satellite potentially. And that would not be sufficient to deflect it toward Earth. The satellite would simply be
obliterated in all likelihood. But that's deemed very unlikely.

I could be wrong of course. Is there something you see in particular that concerns you? Keep in mind that by their nature, animations and trajectory
lines shown in online images and videos aren't going to be 1:1 accurate to the actual position and path of the asteroid.

Peace.

EDIT: Perhaps I spoke too soon? (Although I can't reconcile the difference in timing and as others have said, it shouldn't be pulling any debris with
it being an asteroid.) See post below...

Now this is unexpected and interesting, although it is likely totally unrelated unless something totally unnoticed has come along with this asteroid
(and by my understanding asteroid generally don't pull debris with them like comets... those with greater knowledge, please correct me if wrong.)

Russia appears to have experienced a large explosion related to a meteorite injuring up to 400 people. Supposedly they are claiming it could be
related to AD14 2012, although I don't understand how that could be the case. Anyone care to shed greater light and insight onto this?

YEKATERINBURG/CHELYABINSK, Russia (Reuters) - About 400 people were injured when a meteorite shot across the sky in central Russia on Friday sending
fireballs crashing to Earth, smashing windows and setting off car alarms.

Residents on their way to work in Chelyabinsk heard what sounded like an explosion, saw a bright light and then felt a shockwave, according to a
Reuters correspondent in the industrial city 1,500 km (950 miles) east of Moscow.

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